Page 95 of The King's Maiden

But there was one thought she planted in my mind that I couldn’t let go of…

I just needed to fit in some time to stop by the hair salon next door before five.

I stepped out of the bathroom, ready for the party and refusing to acknowledge the dangerously high hemline on the dress Landon had picked out for me. It clung to my body like a second skin, ruched fabric pulling the black skirt tight over my hips until it stopped at my lower back.

Right above my fucking ass.

I’d curled my hair and let it fall, covering my exposed skin while also revealing what I’d done at the salon.

Streaks of scarlet red peeked out between the dark strands.

Twirling one strand around my finger, I waited for Landon to turn around from the desk, reminding myself not to drool when he did. His sharp black suit hugged his body like it had been made for him. Safely assuming it had been, I sent a few quiet thanks to his tailor.

Because the sight of his perfectly toned ass in those pants filled me with the sudden, inexplicable urge to bite it.

When he turned around, my mouth actually watered.

Head down, he fastened the buttons on his jacket while I prayed for mercy. With a crisp black shirt beneath his black jacket, he looked like a dream.

Or a nightmare, if I had to resist him.

Adjusting the cuff links at his wrists, he lifted his head and saw me standing there.

His hands froze, mouth parting as he stared at me, too.

He raked his gaze up my body from the way-too-expensive red-soled heels he’d left out to where the halter top of my dress cinched tightly around my neck. Slowly drinking in every line and curve, he finally reached my face and spotted the color in my hair.

Eyes widening, his throat bobbed with a slow, deep swallow.

I stepped closer to him, waving a hand over my appearance. “Will this do, Sir?”

He nodded, moving as if pulled by gravity until he was close enough to pull a strand of my newly-dyed hair between his fingers. Toying with the crimson curl, he couldn’t hide his reaction to seeinghiscolor on my body.

His tongue darted out to wet his lips as he tugged gently on the ends, applying tension to my scar without realizing it. My scalp tingled, and my body warmed under his heated gaze.

“You look perfect, Maiden.”

I blushed, brushing my hand down his lapel. “You don’t look so bad yourself, Buns.”

His eyebrows rose. “Buns?”

“Short for Bunny, obviously, or Honey Bunny if I’m cross with you.” I winked, delighting in the way he closed his eyes and dropped his head back with a groan. “Good! You remember.”

“I’m not responding to this.”

“Oh, come on, Buns. Don’t be like that. With the dress you put me in, things are feeling extra bouncy over here.”

I did a slow twirl, considering my new cutesy nickname for him was payback for it. As predicted, my ass jiggled with the slightest movement thanks to the ruched spandex barely keeping it concealed.

“Yeah, extra boun—” He cleared his throat. “We should get going before we?—”

“Decide to skip it altogether?”

His throat worked as he considered that, and I wouldn’t have minded at all if he wanted to. After last night, the thought of him losing control had been hard not to think about, especially as I tossed and turned on the chaise. I would’ve been lying if I’d said I wasn’t eager for it to happen.

But, not surprisingly, his sense of duty won out. “We don’t want to be late.”

“Lead the way, oh gallant Knight of mine.”

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